# Does a ducks quack really not echo? If so why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 6, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-ducks-quack-really-not-echo-if-so-why/173477 "2003-05-06T19:16:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-ducks-quack-really-not-echo-if-so-why/173477/21 "2003-05-07T02:32:27Z")
You know, if you have the album _Portishead_, by the band of the same name, the track “Seven Months” has plenty of Duck-quack-echoing in it. Or at least I think it’s a duck quack. Maybe it’s a duck call instead. And I guess they’re using some digital trickery to make it echo. Why did I post this again? ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-ducks-quack-really-not-echo-if-so-why/173477/22 "2003-05-07T04:54:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe Random \* > \*\*I could never understand how anyone could even entertain the notion that ducks’ quacks don’t echo. An echo is nothing more than a sonic reflection. Now, light reflects off things, too. Sure you can have interference, and some surfaces reflect better than others; The same could be said for sound. > > However, if I told you that \ has no reflection in a mirror, the same people who think that maybe ducks’ quacks might not echo would think I was loony. I dunno, maybe light is just more intuitive than sound. \*\* So does that mean a duck doesn’t cast a reflection? I’m confusedgry. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-ducks-quack-really-not-echo-if-so-why/173477/23 "2003-05-07T05:01:26Z")
> [@](#): > > **sonic reflection** _Band Name!!!_ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-ducks-quack-really-not-echo-if-so-why/173477/24 "2003-05-07T05:26:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dijon Warlock \* > **So does that mean a duck doesn’t cast a reflection?** Only if it’s a [vampire duck](http://www.80snostalgia.com/classictv/duckula/) ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-ducks-quack-really-not-echo-if-so-why/173477/25 "2003-05-07T05:53:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Telemark \* > \*\*Not cold tablets, lip balm. \*\* Not lip balm, a condom. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-ducks-quack-really-not-echo-if-so-why/173477/26 "2003-05-07T06:08:01Z")
But! But! But! How can I possibly ‘duck’ the CPU echoed parity bits from the “gry” shortcut key on my Windows 2000[sup]™[/sup] goosebar? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-ducks-quack-really-not-echo-if-so-why/173477/27 "2003-05-07T06:09:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Priceguy \* > \*\*Not lip balm, a condom. \*\* I think that’s a slightly different one that goes: **Pharmacist:** “Shall I put it on your bill?” **Duck:** “Hell no, I’m not that kind of duck!” ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-ducks-quack-really-not-echo-if-so-why/173477/28 "2003-05-07T06:14:29Z")
[effing strange oblique off topic reference] PS: **Priceguy** , the top secret retro-function keyboards are shipping out in a few days. Please make ready for massive licorice retaliation several weeks from now. [/effing strange oblique off topic reference] ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-ducks-quack-really-not-echo-if-so-why/173477/29 "2003-05-07T06:21:30Z")
[effing strange oblique off topic reference] Reception prepared. Retaliation will commence upon reception. [/effing strange oblique off topic reference] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-ducks-quack-really-not-echo-if-so-why/173477.md?page=1)